The Catamount Trail Association manages and maintains the Catamount Trail, which runs the length of Vermont from Massachusetts to Canada. The Association provides instructional and social opportunities for backcountry skiers and individuals who want to be backcountry skiers. Our goal is to make it easy and convenient to get outside, explore and have fun in the woods of Vermont. The Catamount Trail Association builds partnerships to support the Trail, and fosters awareness and stewardship of Vermont's diverse landscapes through promotion and use of the Trail.

Please provide a brief history of the organization:

The Catamount Trail began as an idea in the minds of three young Vermont men: Steve Bushey, Paul Jarris and Ben Rose. Steve Bushey, then a University of Vermont student in geography, researched the route and obtained access privileges from various landowners as a thesis project. Steve, with friends Paul and Ben, skied the route on the first End-to-End Tour in 1984, and the Catamount Trail was born. The Association was incorporated in 1984 with the purpose of building, administering and maintaining the Catamount Trail as a public resource.

Since then, with the help of many volunteers, great strides have been made toward finishing the Trail as well as protecting the corridor in perpetuity so skiers can continue to enjoy it for generations to come.

How have your programs evolved to meet your mission? Has your organization changed its mission?

Officially our mission hasn't changed much. But the truth is, backcountry skiing has changed quite a bit since the founding of our organization 30 years ago. At that time backcountry skiing meant skiing point-to-point and was more akin to hiking than to the more downhill oriented activity you see portrayed on the pages of publications such as Backcountry Magazine. Today, backcountry skiing encompasses a very wide array of activities and modes of travel. It could mean skiing off-trail on lightweight Nordic equipment on moderate terrain, or it might mean using burly alpine touring or telemark equipment to ascend and descend technical mountain terrain. So, while we won't be re-routing the Catamount Trail to include cliff drops any time soon, we are hoping to position the Catamount Trail Association in a way that appeals to the broader backcountry community.

What that means is creating resources and opportunities for individuals with similar ideas of what backcountry skiing is to get together, get outside, and have fun. Every winter the Association organizes close to 40 free day tours and over the past couple of seasons we have been slowly adding to and expanding those offerings to include everything from point-to-point tours on the Catamount Trail to tours up an down the Mt. Mansfield backcountry. In the future we hope to offer an even greater variety and number of tours.

From Outreach Coordinator Emily Licht: This winter marked the fourth season of the Catamount Ski Cubs program, and what a year is was! With 76 youth participating in 569 hours of skiing, Ski Cubs saw more participants receiving Nordic skiing instruction than ever before. This learn-to-ski program is offered by the CTA at no cost to Vermont youth, many of them New Americans, and most of them otherwise would not have the opportunity to learn the sport of cross-country skiing. Ski Cubs took place this year on six Saturday mornings at Sleepy Hollow Inn Ski and Bike Center and Bolton Valley Nordic Center. In addition, Ski Cubs ran programs with Robinson Elementary School in Starksboro, the DREAM mentoring program, and Vermont Works for Women's Rock and Adventure Program.

From Executive Director Amy Kelsey: As I approached a winter campsite deep in the woods, it was impossible not to notice the thick scent of balsam fir. The group I was about to meet had collected piles of balsam bows the night before to make their beds. By the time I arrived, they were mostly packed up, but the green carpet they slept on the previous night still remained. The group of 14 were busy preparing for the day. Some had skis on and were dispersing small piles balsam in the woods. Others were organizing their packs. Everyone had a job.

Soon all that was left at the campsite were tracks and footprints, and it wasn't long before the group began to filter out of the woods and back to the trail. Everyone was using waxless metal-edged backcountry skis, and were carrying large backpacks. During the next two hours of moderate climbing on Section 22 of the Catamount Trail, I learned just a bit about the group and their journey.

The students participating in on this Kroka Expedition were from all over the country.

Everyone has a specific job within the group (eg: food manager, navigator, etc.) and they all take turns being responsible for variety of other daily tasks

At the start of their journey there were six vegetarians. However, the need for calories and protein while winter camping had quickly cut that number in half.

The Kroka skiers don't stop very often. They try to maintain a steady, comfortable pace and eat and drink while continually moving

This was just the beginning. After they finished skiing almost the full length of Vermont, they were to paddle canoes down the Lamoille river, row south on Lake Champlain. Eventually trading the canoes for bikes and cycling back to the Kroka Campus in Marlow, N.H.

According to the Kroka website, its semester programs "combine wilderness adventure with conscious living to create a unique physical, social, and spiritual journey for young people." From the short time I spent with this kind and thoughtful group of 12 students (ages 15-18) and two instructors, I found myself wanting very much to join in their extended and multi-faceted journey.

Unfortunately, I needed to get back to some other work responsibilities. So, reluctantly, I removed my skins and said farewell. As I skied, I thought how these six weeks on the Catamount Trail were just the beginning.

What are you two biggest challenges?

Weather and climate change: Most sections of our trail are remote, without snowmaking, and subject to the whims of Mother Nature. The success of our winter seasons depends highly on snowfall and temperatures. This season was decent in the end, lasting into April, but a very difficult start with alternating rain and freezing temps for much of January.

Trail connectivity: The Catamount Trail is made possible by nearly 200 landowners who open their land to host the trail each winter. Without these generous landowners, there would be no trail. The Association has successfully obtained trail easements across private parcels, ensuring that the trail can remain where it is into the future. However, many areas along the trail are not protected with easements, and when a landowner along the trail decides to sell their land, the purchaser may or may not agree to continue hosting the trail. We are fortunate that most purchasers choose to continue the tradition of hosting the trail, yet until the association successfully conserves the entire length of the trail with easements, property transfers leave the trail vulnerable to potential gaps and can require time-consuming relocations.

How do you determine success? What outcomes do you measure?

Success is measured by the the number of people out enjoying the trail and being outdoors in the winter. We do track skier days each season, which measures participants in Catamount Trail Association-sponsored tours and events. That said, the majority of trail use is by individuals and groups traveling on their own, which is exactly what we want to see and encourage, but more difficult to measure. We also track participation in our youth Ski Cubs program, which in 2014 reached 76 young people, who with their mentors and chaperones tallied more than 720 hours on skis.

Success is also measured by trail protection and our ability to conserve the trail on private lands. Approximately 240 miles of the trail are protected, and 60 miles remain unprotected.

What is your greatest need?

SNOW!

What is your annual operating budget?

Our most recent approved budget projected an annual income of $260,090 and annual expenses of $258,030

What are your organization's funding sources? And what's the primary revenue source?

Our funding sources include Catamount Trail Association members, private foundations, sponsors and participants of events like Race to the Top of Vermont, and the state and federal government. The primary source of revenue is our members and other friends, who collectively contribute more than half of our annual revenues through annual fund and Trail Fund donations and annual membership contributions.

Also, we organize events such as the North Face Race To The Top Of Vermont. Every summer at the end of August the North Face Race To The Top Of Vermont (made possible with support from klmountainshop.com) takes place in Stowe. The North Face Race To The Top Of Vermont is a 4.3 mile run, bike or hike that climbs 2564 feet up the Toll Road on Mt Mansfield. Last year the event drew more than 800 participants and has become our organization's largest fundraiser of the year. This season's event is Aug. 24 and interested parties should signup before July 1 when our early registration period ends to get the lowest price. Learn more at www.rtttovt.com

Eric Blake, winner of the 2013 North Face Race To The Top Of Vermont, runs the scenic Toll Road.(Photo: Courtesy Mike Hitelman)

How can the public help your organization?

There are several ways that the public can help the Catamount Trail Association. First, volunteers are the backbone of our organization, and without their dedication and hard work the Catamount Trail would not be in existence today. Close to 60 trail chiefs maintain and protect the 31 sections of the trail, spending personal time hanging blazes, organizing trail work days, and often leading tours during the winter. All of our winter events are instructed by volunteers who donate their time in order to teach our members the skills needed to explore Vermont's backcountry terrain.

The North Face Race to the Top of Vermont, our biggest annual fundraiser at Stowe Mountain Resort, is reliant on more than 50 volunteers who work tirelessly to make sure the event runs smoothly. In addition, all of our winter tours and fall trail work days are coordinated and led by volunteers, providing access to winter recreation for hundreds of avid skiers each year. Volunteering with the Catamount Trail Association is one of the greatest ways that the public can give back to the Trail and to the entire state of Vermont. Please visit our website for more information and to find out about all the volunteer opportunities currently available.

The start of the MVP Healthcare Run For Fun at the 2013 North Face Race To The Top Of Vermont.(Photo: Courtesy Mike Hitelman)

What else do you want the community to know about you?

The most important thing we would like the community at large to know is just that we exist. Beyond that we would love for more people to know about all of the backcountry day tours that we offer during the winter. They're totally free and there are options in every part of the state for every ability level. We just want people to get out and ski. Once you do and you experience the freedom and excitement of skiing the Catamount Trail we're sure you will choose to become a member and help us with our efforts to protect one of Vermont's most valuable recreational resources!

About Sense of Service

For the past 20 years Free Press Media/Burlington Free Press has had great response from readers when we profile area nonprofits as part of our annual Giving Season campaign at the end of the year. Now we want to extend that spirit year-round to provide the public with more information about community service work and opportunities.

Catamount Trail Association by the numbers

Miles of trail: approximately 300

Approximate miles of trail on Green Mountain National Forest Lands: 85

Approximate miles of trail on Vermont State Lands: 60

Approximate miles of trail on Vermont Municipal Lands: 10

Total Miles of Trail Protected on Public Lands: 155

Miles protected on other conserved lands or via CTA trail easement: 86

Unprotected miles: approximately 60

Miles shared with VAST snowmobile corridors: 65

Get in touch

Website: www.catamounttrail.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/CatamountTrailAssociation

Meetup: www.meetup.com/CatamountBackcountrySkiers

Backcountry Vermont hashtag: #BCVT (use this tag to share posts, or search for posts on social media sites)